Last one

Safe to say I'm excited now. Couldn't focus on anything long enough to get stuff done last night so it'll all have to happen tonight. No pressure.

Also, put my condo back on the market. Fingers crossed and all that hoo-hah. Third time lucky, right?

2 ... !

Panic hasn't set in yet but in case it does, Super C gave me the most fantastic toy ever when we met for lunch today.

Check this out!!!

3 More

Thanks to a night at home last night, I am now pretty sure all my stuff will fit. As much as I'm trying to pack light, the hockey bag seems to have filled up fast. Looks like I may pull out a few things before the final pack on Friday night.

Aren't you thrilled?

4 Days

Woosh! Where does the time go? Down to 4 days until departure..

Had my first fitness test of the year last night. Some things are better, some are the same and some are worse. No surprise there but still not impressed with myself.

Here are the details:

The maximum weight I can bench press is still 95lbs (same)
The maximum reps I can bench press in 90 seconds (using 45lbs) is 62 (better)
The maximum reps I can bench row in 90 seconds (using 45lbs) is 62 (worse)
I can do a back extension for 6 minutes, 20 seconds (better)
I can do 188 sprinter runs in 90 seconds (same)
I can do 63 sit ups in 90 seconds (worse)
I can do 0 push-ups in 90 seconds (way worse)
I can do zero chin-ups in 90 seconds (same - heh)

6 Days Left

Less than a week until I leave for Belize! Even though 2009 is less than a month old, it feels like it's been January forever. Probably because it's been so horribly cold here for a good two weeks now.

This trip will be different than my past trips to Panama. We're a small group, only 5 of us. We'll be staying in the church and doing work ... not too sure where yet. The other 3 women on the trip will be doing some health and nutrition sessions with the kids at the school (which happens to be right next door to the church). After school we may also be kicking soccer balls around the school yard with the kids.

Can't wait to experience Belize!

Anagrams

Did you know that one anagram of my name (there are a lot), Stephanie, comes up with:

Panties eh

How appropriate is that for a Canadian woman?!

Athlete

Last night I picked up my new access card to the Olympic Basin training facility. The card has a cool picture of the Big O (not sure why but anyway) and a dragon (for us dragon boaters!). It also has my name and title of "Athlete".

Athlete! I tell ya. Is that the funniest thing you've ever heard about me or what?! I've been called a lot of things before but athlete has never, ever been one of them.

My niece is famous! Check this out!

Read the whole thing. Sister-in-law (Sue), nephew Wesley, and proud aunt (i.e. Me!) all get a mention too.

Christmas Baking

If you want to see what all the baking was about, click here.

Happy New Year

2009 is here. Weird, eh? Doesn't it seem like Y2K was just a minute ago?

Reflecting (briefly) on 2008 here are a few highlights:

March - earn TESL certificate
June - win first Dragon Boat race of the season, take Darcy to see Robert Munsch
August - win second Dragon Boat race (getting quite used to it!)
September - Kathryn & John's wedding
October - up my TESL certificate to Honours with specialization in business English
November - babysit Darcy & Wesley for a week, come out alive

Being who I am, I can't ignore the stuff that didn't quite go my way:

March to September - real estate agent #1 doesn't market my condo, it doesn't sell
September to December - real estate agent #2 takes on my condo but financial crisis brings market to a screaming halt, condo doesn't sell
November - take 2 sick days, breaking my 8 year good attendance record at the firm
December - Dragon Boat team decide once and for all we won't be going to China in 2009